United tops Ajax in Europa League

With a combined seven European titles, United and Ajax highlighted the last 32 pairings, and Young and Hernandez made sure the club's Champions League slump did not carry into the Europa League.

United was eliminated from the Champions League following a loss to Basel, but the road win has the three-time European champions on target to capture their first Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup.

Four-time European champion Ajax will have to overturn the two-goal deficit at Old Trafford next Thursday to advance.

Atletico Madrid also got off to a good start on the road as Falcao scored two goals in a 3-1 win over Lazio in Rome, while last season's Champions League semifinalist Schalke needed a late goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for a 1-1 tie at Viktoria Plzen.